Silverwood staffers receive scholarships

ATHOL — Silverwood Theme Park has provided scholarships to 10 seasonal employees through its annual scholarship program to help offset college-level education expenses.

Thirty-eight park employees applied for funds this year and 10 $1,000 scholarships were granted. The students were required to complete a 400-word essay about how they feel their jobs at Silverwood will benefit them in the future. The essays were judged by a panel of five non-Silverwood community businesspeople.

Kyla Trumble, one of the scholarship recipients, said winning this scholarship brought her one step closer to reaching her goal of becoming a pediatric nurse. As a lead lifeguard at Silverwood Theme Park, Trumble said she has discovered her passion for being in the medical field and hopes to participate in Doctors Without Borders in the future.

With tuition costs continuously rising, Lorinda Bauer hopes to use this scholarship to grow and make a better income for her family. Bauer works in guest relations at the park and has been employed at Silverwood for four seasons.

"I really want to be able to help advocate for women and children by going to school for childhood development and consumer relations,” Bauer said. "I feel like I could be a resource for the community."

Silverwood Theme Park employs 85 full-time, year-round staff and approximately 1,400 seasonal employees.

"Our cast members are an integral part of our business," said Silverwood general manager Paul Norton. "We highly value their hard work and are extremely proud to offer this scholarship program to assist in their college education and future.”